Drawing instrument



Oct. 11, 1949. E. s. UPTON DRAWING INSTRUMENT Filed Jan. 22, 1946 wvs/vra/z 'f'z/GENE 5. M ra/v W 9 5% A rmeA E rs.

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Patented Oct. 11, 1949 UNITE D S TATES PATENT OF FICE DRAWING INSTRUMENT Eugene *S. Upton, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application January 22, 1946, Serial No. 642,661

8 Claims. (01.33-773 I This invention relates to means for guiding the accurate location and angular disposition of the lines of perspective of drawings and the primary object of the invention is to provide a device which can be set to draw a multiplicity of lines converging on a common point in a facile, accurate and efficien't manner.

Certain types of perspective drawings entail the location of two or more vanishing points, upon which the lines of the drawings converge. Frequently, these points are quite remote from the area of the drawing and oifer considerable difficulty to the draftsman in executing the draw- Accordingly, another object of the invention is to provide a novel and adjustable device whereby the converging lines of perspective of a drawing may be accurately and quickly drawn regardless of the proximity or remoteness of the vanishing points on which said lines converge.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated which is unitary in construction, relatively small, and easily handled and operated so that a perspective drawing may be executed quickly, easily and accur'at'ely.

The (foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more clearly evident as the following description of the invention, progresses. The accompanying drawing which forms part of this disclosure, comprises the basis for the decription in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is set forth.

i In the drawing z -Ffigure l is a top plan view of a device for guiding the drawing of lines of perspective and embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is an edge viewthereof.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view as taken on the line 33 of Figure 1,

Figures 4 and 5 are enlarged cross-sectional detail views of adjustable locking -means used in the invention.

As'show-n in the drawings:

In the form in which the invention has been disclosed in the drawing, the device consists, generally, of a plurality of adjustable articulat'ed and collapsible frames T0, ll and 12, mounted 'on a common base member l3, and having respective straight edges '14, ['5 and I6. The frames and "l! are arranged to have a common base comprising the longitudinal bar I I or the base 53, and a common 'extensi-bly adjustakilelink f8 ad j us'tably pivoted at I 8 to theta? edge 39 of the base base T3, The frame 10 further includes a link 29 pivoted to the base l3 at 21 and. vpivotal ly secured to an intermediate portion of the straight-edge M at 22. Similarly, the frame *lfl includes a link 23 pivoted at 24 to the base I73 and pivotally secured at 25 to an intermediate portion'of the straight-edge 15. A common strap 26, parallel to the bar [1, connects the links 20 and 23 and is pivotally' connected at 21 to the link 18. In this manner, the frame I10 coinpri'ses a parallelogram consisting of the bars I! and 1'8, the link Zil and the strap 26- Similarly, the frame H comprises a parallelogram consisting of the bars I1 and T8, the link 2?: and the strap 26.

Each straight-edge l4 and i5 is providedwith a longitudinal slot '28 whereby endwise adjustability of said straightedges may be effected on the respective pivots '22 and 25, and whereby the pivotal and sliding connections 29 and 30 of said straight-edges to the bar I8, can be eifected. The -bar i8 is also provided with a longitudinal slot 3! so that the angular .position of the straight-edges l4 and I5 can be adjusted about the respective pivots z 2 and 25.

The construction of the pivot 21 is shown more clearly in Figure 4 wherein a stud 32 extends from the strap 26 through the slot 3| of the bar [8 to -be locked in place as by a thumb nut 33. A spacer 34 around the stud serves to allow free respective angular movement of the bar l8 and the strap 25.

I he construction of the similar pivotal connections '29 and 30 is shown in Figure 5 wherein a stud 35 extends through the slot 31 of the bar l8 through the slot 28 of either straight-edge l 4 or H) to be locked in place by a thumb nut 36. A collar 31 -.is provided between the bar '18 and either straight-edge I4 or H: and a spacer 38 around the stud serves to permit both pivotal and sliding engagement between the bar [8 and the straight-edges l4 and I5.

From the above-described construction of the frames f and II, it will be seen that when the 13 is positioned on or parallel to the horizon line of a drawing upon which 'line thevanishing points are located, that, in any adjusted positions of the straight-edges l4 and 15, said straight edges will point to said vanishing points, respectively, in any angular position of the collapsible frames 10 and H. When comparing the relationship of the pivots 2 2 and 29 and the pivots 25 and?!) of the respec- I ti ve frames Ill and "-H in the full line "and dotd'ash line positions of the frames, it will be seen that whereas only pivoting occurs at the pivots 22 and 25, both pivoting and relative sliding movement occurs at the pivotal points 29 and 30. The frames I and Il may be collapsed in either direction and to any degree approaching a zero angle between the base edge 39 and the straightedges I4 or I and the straight-edges can be of any suitable length so that all the necessary lines of perspective can be obtained from their various positions.

Insofar as the drawing of common perspective lines is concerned, the above-described device may be considered complete. However, for drawing the converging lines to a common vanishing point of erect objects as viewed from an elevated or low point as the case may be, the frame I2 may be provided as part of the device.

To this end, the base I3 is provided with a transverse extension 40 and is provided with spaced brackets 4I and 42 on which is pivoted a bar 43. The latter comprises one element of the frame [2 which further includes links 44 and 45, a connecting strap 46 for said links and the mentioned straight-edge Hi. The link 44 is pivoted at 41 to the bar 43 and at 48 to the strap 46. Similarly, the link is pivoted at 49 to said bar and at 50 to said strap. The links 44 and 45 are extended to connect at 5| and 52 to the straightedge I G by means of its slot 53.

The link 45 is made to be extensible as shown and comprises telescoping elements 54 and 55, adjustably secured at 56 so that the angular disposition of the straight edge may be varied with respect to the extension 40.

By tilting the frame thus provided on the pivots 41 and 49, any angle between the straight-edge I 6 and the extension 40, may be obtained, the lines forming said angle, converging on a common point located on a projected line extending from the extension 40. can be drawn on either side of the projected line by swinging the frame I2 to either side thereof on the pivotbrackets M and 42.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a relatively simple and effective device has been provided for the purpose of guiding the drawing of perspective lines; that the device is compact, unitary and easily adjusted and handled; and that much'time can besaved thereby in the execution of perspective drawings.

Since variations in the structure of the device may be made, no restrictions in the scope of the appended claims is intended as regard to the specific instrumentalities herein disclosed which have been given by way of example or illustration only.

I claim: V

1. A device of the character described comprising a base having a longitudinal edge, and a pair of frames pivotally carried by the base, each frame comprising a parallelogram having sides composed of a portion of said base, a link, a strap connecting the links, and a common bar pivoted to the base, each frame further including a straight-edge carried by each link, respectively and by the common bar.

2. A device of the character described comprising a base having a longitudinal edge, a pair of frames pivotally carried by the base, each frame comprising a parallelogram having sides composed of a portion of said base, a link, a strap connecting the links, and a common bar pivoted to the base, each frame further including a straight-edge carried by each link, respectively and by the common bar, and means for adjustably Such converging lines securing each straight-edge for relative pivotal and sliding movement with respect to the mentioned common bar.

3. A device of the character described comprising a base having a longitudinal edge, a pair of frames pivotally carried by the base, each frame comprising a parallelogram having sides composed of a portion of said base, a link, a strap connecting the links, and a common bar pivoted to the base, each frame further including a straight-edge carried by each link, respectively and by the common bar, and means for adjustably securing each straight-edge for relative pivotal and sliding movement with respect to the mentioned common bar, said means comprising a pivot stud having locking means and a spacer permitting the mentioned relative sliding movement of the straight-edge and common bar.

4. A device of the character described comprising a base having a longitudinal edge, and a pair of frames pivotally carried by the base, each frame comprising a parallelogram having sides composed of a portion of said base, a link, a common bar pivoted to the base, and a strap connecting the links and adjustable with respect to said common bar each frame further including a straight-edge adjustably carried by an exten-' sion of each link, respectively and by an extension of the common bar.

5. A device of the character described comprising a base having a longitudinal edge, a pair of frames pivotally carried by the base, each frame comprising a parallelogram having sides composed of a portion of said base, a link, a strap connecting the links, and a common bar pivoted to the base, each frame further including a straight-edge carried by each link, respectively and by the common bar, a third frame carried by the base and comprising a paralleogram having sides composed of a bar mounted on spaced brackets to pivot on the frame, spaced pivoted links carried by said bar, and a strap connecting said links, said third frame further including a straight-edge carried by said links.

6. A device of the character described comprising a base having a longitudinal edge, a pair of frames pivotally carried by the base, each frame comprising a parallelogram having sides composed of a portion of said base, a link, a strap connecting the links, and a common bar pivoted to the base, each frame further including a straight-edge carried by each link, respectively and by the common bar, a third frame carried by the base and comprising a parallelogram having sides composed of a bar mounted on spaced brackets to pivot on the frame, spaced pivoted links carried by said bar, means for adjusting the length of one of the links, and a strap connecting said links, said third frame further including a straight-edge carried by said links.

'7. A device of the character described comprising a base having a longitudinal edge, a pair of frames pivotally carried by the base, each frame comprising a parallelogram having sides composed of a portion of said base, a link, a strap connecting the links, and a common bar pivoted to the base, each frame further including a straight-edge carried by each link, respectively and by the common bar, a third frame carried by the base and comprising a parallelogram having sides composed of a bar mounted on spaced brackets to pivot on the frame spaced pivoted links carried by said bar, and a strap connecting said links, said third frame further including a straight-edge carried by said links, and means adjustably mounting said straight-edge on the said links.

8. In a device of the character described, a base having an edge adapted to be placed on or parallel to the horizon line of a perspective drawing, a pair of straight-edges each disposed in a direction to point to one vanishing point on said horizon line, and a swingably collapsible structure comprising a pair of parallelogram frames mounting said straight-edges on said base, said frames having a common bar, a link pivoted to the base on each side of the bar and spaced therefrom, and a connecting strap for the links parallel to the mentioned edge of the base.

EUGENE S. UPTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 353,853 Thompson Feb. 9, 1886 2,048,221 Bedding July 21, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 63,978 Austria Mar. 26, 1914 291,015 Great Britain Nov. 1, 1928 

